The idea behind Tacoma Winterfest is to get people to support our local economy by shopping local for their holiday gifts. That, of course, includes local artists too. Only local independent businesses (and artists) will be permitted to be vendors at the event. In order to minimize the risk for our struggling local businesses we are only charging them $25 per 10x10 space for 2 days. We will supply holiday entertainment and we are putting the bulk of our budget into advertising. There will be a photo opportunity with Captain Claus for families, a children's art project, a fashion show by F.A.T featuring clothes from local boutiques and designers. We want this to be something the whole family can attend together but we'd like them to be able to buy for each other without spoiling the surprise. To accomplish this, we plan to provide fun distractions for people while their counterpart does the shopping. We plan to provide a children's activity center for the kiddies and a "man den" with cold beverages and football. We also plan to provide a gift wrap counter staffed by local artists so there won't be any peeking into the shopping bags! (To apply, see vendor form at the bottom of this email) If you have any questions/ideas feel free to call me at 253-426-5704. PLEASE DON'T REPLY TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS (it gets too much junk mail and might be overlooked). Use this one instead: TacomaWintefest@live.com. Thanks, ~Angela Jossy P.S. 10 REASONS TO SHOP LOCAL: (from a Washington DC website) 1. Keep Money in the Neighborhood. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 goes back into the community and our tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $14 comes back. 2. Help the Environment. Independent businesses make purchases requiring less transportation and are usually located in commercial corridors and in-town instead of developing on the fringe. This means less sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. 3. Support Community Groups. Non-profit organizations receive an average of 250% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses. 4. Embrace What Makes Us Different. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of our community. Where we shop; where we eat and hang out - all of it makes Washington DC home. That is what brought us here and will keep us here. 5. Invest in the Community. Local businesses are owned by people who live here, work here, and are more invested in our future. 6. Put Your Taxes To Good Use. Local businesses in neighborhoods need comparatively less infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community. 7. Get Better Service. Local businesses often hire people who have a better understanding of the products they're selling, and take more time to get to know their customers. 8. Buy What You Want, Not What Someone Wants You to Buy. A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses means low prices over the long-term. Small businesses choosing products based on what their customers love and need - not a national sales plan - guarantee a more diverse range of products. 9. Create More Jobs. Local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in Washington DC they provide the most new jobs to residents. 10. Encourage Local Prosperity. In an increasingly homogenized world, people are more likely to invest in or move to communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and unique attitude. Winterfest invites you to shop local for your holiday gifts on Dec. 13th and 14th where 75 local businesses will all join together to make it easy and fun! ----------------------------------- To potential sponsors: Foss Waterway Seaport, home of the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum, will be offering a holiday waterfront festival on December 13 and 14 of this year. The event will be housed in our facility at 705 Dock Street on the north end of the Foss Waterway. This event, called Tacoma Winterfest 2008, will feature holiday gifts for purchase from local businesses, a family photo opportunity with Captain Claus, a fashion show, an evening boat cruise, delicious food from local restaurants and live entertainment. Because this is the first year of the festival, we are actively pursuing a variety of advertising opportunities, including a special pullout section in The News Tribune and an ad listing all sponsors in their holiday gift guides. We hope to attract 5,000 people during the first year. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please review the attached flyer to find a sponsorship level that appeals to you (available upon request). We know that sponsorship monies are usually dictated by annual budgets. If this request is reaching you too late to provide sponsorship monies this year, please consider us during your next budget planning cycle. We expect Tacoma Winterfest to grow into a well attended annual event. We hope you will consider supporting Tacoma Winterfest 2008. Thank you for reviewing our information. Best Regards, Tom Cashman Executive Director Foss Waterway Seaport ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tacoma Winterfest Vendor Application When: Saturday Dec. 13 Noon to 10 pm and Sunday Dec. 14 Noon to 8 pm. Where: Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402 We ask that vendors set up between the hours of 8 and 10 am on Saturday and not pack up until 8 pm on Sunday. Please initial here that you agree to do this ____ Date of application ___________ Your name: _____________________________________ Number of spaces needed: ___ (10x10 foot vendor spaces cost $25 for two days) Please tell us about your business: Name of business: _________________________________ Where is it located: ____________________________________________________________ Contact person name and telephone number: _______________________________________ Email address: ___________________________________________________ Is your business locally owned and operated: YES ______ NO ______ SORT OF - its complicated. Explain: ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Please give us your website address: http://www. ________________________ What type of gift items will you be selling? ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Do you offer a service instead of a gift item? Tell us: __________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Would you like to promote your organization rather than sell something? What do you propose to do with your booth space: ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Do you need power? YES ____ NO _____ Do you have any special needs or requests? _________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ If you will be selling food items, do you have the necessary licensing and permits? _________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Would you like to participate in our advertising campaign? YES ____ NO _____ MAYBE, tell me more ______ Would you like to learn more about becoming one of our sponsors? If so we will send you a sponsor packet explaining all the benefits of sponsorship. YES ____ NO _____ MAYBE, tell me more ______ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADMINISTRATIVE – DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VENDOR APPROVED: YES ____ NO _____ FEE COLLECTED: YES ____ NO ____ IS THIS BUSINESS A SPONSOR: YES ____ NO ____ SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ OTHER NOTES: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Mail this application to: Winterfest, Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock Street Tacoma, WA 98402 or email it to: TacomaWinterfest@live.com PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE PAYMENT. If your application is approved you will be contacted so that payment can be arranged. ( end of application )